Sewing machine

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine accessory is provided with two side flaps and a front flap and also has a flat top surface which cooperates with the upper face of the free lower arm of the sewing machine when the accessory is slipped thereon, to thereby provide an enlarged work surface. The flaps can be raised to enclose the machine when it is not in use.

United States Patent Marcel Fresard Petit-Lancy, Geneva, Switzerland 805,490

Mar. 10, 1969 Mar. 16, 1971 Mefina S.A.

Fribourg, Switzerland Apr. 5, 1968 Switzerland lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority SEWING MACHINE 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

112/258, 1 12/63 Int. Cl D05b 75/00 FieldofSearch ll2/2l7.l, 260, 258, 63, 217; 3l2/208,24; 108/65, 90, 137,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,783,836 12/1930 Finlayson ..(l l2/2l7.lUX) 2,652,800 9/ l 953 Scheiwiller 1 12/260 FOREIGN PATENTS 960,244 3/1957 Germany 1 12/260 Primary ExaminerJordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Art0rneysEmory L. Groif and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A sewing machine accessory is provided with two side flaps and a front flap and also has a flat top surface which cooperates with the upper face of the free lower arm of the sewing machine when the accessory is slipped thereon, to thereby provide an enlarged work surface. The flaps can be raised to enclose the machine when it is not in use.

Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,430

INVENTOR Mmzczp FEesn ib ATTORNEY SEWING MACHINE This invention relates to a sewing machine having a free lower arm, onto which can be slipped an accessory having a top surface that cooperates with the upper face of the free arm so as to provide a larger work surface, whereby the sewing machine can be converted from a free arm machine into one having a large flat work surface.

An object of the invention is a sewing machine accessory that can he slipped onto the freelower arm to provide an enlarged work surface, and which has a plurality of hinged flaps that can be raised to form, with the 'case of the machine, an enclosure for the sewing machine.

This object and others of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. The invention will be described, with reference to the H68. of the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sewing machine and accessory together, so as to provide an enlarged work surface; and

HO. 2 is a perspective view of the sewing machine and accessory separated, leaving the lower arm free.

With reference to the FIGS. the sewing grain type comprises a case 1 composed of a base 2, a pedestal 3, a free lower arm 4, an upper arm 5, and a head 6. A sewing machine of this kind can be used in the form shown at the right-hand side of FIG. 2, in which form the free arm 4 permits tubular pieces to be sewn.

To enable the sewing of large pieces by the same machine, there is provided an accessory 7 which has a generally U- shape as seen from above, the two sides of the U each including a flat top 8 which slides along respective sides of the free arm 4, so as to provide together with the upper face of the latter, an enlarged working surface over'the whole length of the arm 4. At the longitudinal edge 9 of each top 8 a respective flap 10 is hinged, each said flap having a length substantially corresponding to that of the sewing machine. Once the accessory 7 is slipped onto the arm 4 and fixed between the latter and the base 2, the sewing machine can be closed up by raising the flaps 10 against the upper arm and the pedestal 3.

In the embodiment illustrated, a third flap 11 is hinged at the height of the tops 8 to the front edge 12 of the accessory 7, so that the head 6 can be covered when the sewing machine is closed up.

In accordance with the invention, conventional hinges such as a double-leaf hinge can be used to connect the flaps to their respective edges. Also; various means can be provided for holding the flaps in place when the sewing machine is closed up. In the embodiment shown, these means are composed of spring catches 13, provided on each side of the head 6, which engage respective notches l4 incorporated in the upper edges of the flaps 10 and 11. When the sewing machine is in use, these flaps rest on the surface supporting the machine, so that they act as ramps which facilitate guiding the material towards the needle plate 15.

In a modification, the flaps 10, instead of extending theentire length of the sewing machine, can extend only as far as the pedestal 3 without entirely covering the latter when the machine is closed up.

In another modification, the flap 11 need not be hinged to the front edge 12 of the accessory 7, but instead can be mounted so that it is free to move with respect to the accessory. To this end, there can be provided in the lower part of the accessory a compartment into which the flap 11 can slide when the sewing machine is used.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, the scope of, and the breadth of protection afforded to, the invention are limited solely by the appended claims.

' lclaim:

1. In combination with a sewing machine including a casing, a base, a pedestal, a free lower arm, an upper arm and a head, an accessory slipped onto said freearm, said accessory including sidewalls and a top surface which cooperates with the upper face of said free arm so as to provide a larger work surface therefor, whereby the sewing machine can be converted from an enlarged flat work surface to a free arm machine, a plurality of flaps hinged to the upper edges of said sidewalls, said flaps adapted to be raised against said casing to form an enclosure for the sewing machine and lowered to permit use of the sewing machine and when they are in said lowered position, providing ramps for guiding the material to be sewn towards the needle plate, and means on said head to engage said flaps when they are in raised position to retain them against said casing.

2. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said accessory top surface comprises two flat members each connected to the upper edge of a respective sidewall and disposed on opposite sides of said free arm upper face.

3. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said accessory top surface comprises two flat members each connected to the upper edge of a respective side wall and disposed on opposite sides of said free arm upper face, said flaps adjacent said two flat members extending substantially the entire length of said sewing machine. 

1. In combination with a sewing machine including a casing, a base, a pedestal, a free lower arm, an upper arm and a head, an accessory slipped onto said free arm, said accessory including sidewalls, and a top surface which cooperates with the upper face of said free arm so as to provide a larger work surface therefor, whereby the sewing machine can be converted from an enlarged flat work surface to a free arm machine, a plurality of flaps hinged to the upper edges of said sidewalls, said flaps adapted to be raised against said casing to form an enclosure for the sewing machine and lowered to permit use of the sewing machine and when they are in said lowered position, providing ramps for guiding the material to be sewn towards the needle plate, and means on said head to engage said flaps when they are in raised position to retain them against said casing.
 2. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said accessory top surface comprises two flat members each connected to the upper edge of a respective sidewall and disposed on opposite sides of said free arm upper face.
 3. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said accessory top surface comprises two flat members each connected to the upper edge of a respective side wall and disposed on opposite sides of said free arm upper face, said flaps adjacent said two flat members extending substantially the entire length of said sewing machine. 